4 ms·

Did dinosaur / do reptilian blood cells live longer?

• robbiep 4y ago
  Those from birds which are nucleated last about 30-40 days compared to 120 in us so no
• Retric 4y ago
  No idea about dinosaurs but some reptilian red blood cells live much longer as in 500+ days for turtles vs 120 for humans. However, it varies widely with mice and chickens having much faster turnover. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006497120300185?via%3Dihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000649712... Five species of salamanders have similar enucleated red blood cells, but I can’t find out how long they last in comparison. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18328681/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18328681/ One theory is it’s an adaption to having unusually large genomes which would otherwise be an issue, but biology is odd so who knows.
  • lazide 4y ago
    For one, it makes them much harder to be used as viral vectors.
    • glitchc 4y ago
      I think that's the reason why mammals evolved in this way. Red blood cells go everywhere, and I mean everywhere, in your body. Most other cells can't get close enough.
• speed_spread 4y ago
  Not with that attitude